My radiation may have to be postponed...

Anonymous

I was supposed to start radiation on May 9. However, there is one spot on my left breast that is very slow to heal. I went back to the PS today to have hi check it. Apparently there is as stitch that was absorbed that he had to remove which is probably why that spot is not closing.. Hopefully now it will start to resolve. However, the RO told me that if it is not healed enough by May 9 then the radiation will have to be postponed.

Here is my question.... I had surgery on March 22.. So, May 9 will be more than 6 weeks from surgery. When is the recommended time after surgery to start the radiation.. I am concerned that too much time has elapsed... I started Femara last week but I am very uneasy because I feel that the cancer is growing back since nothing was done since surgery. I like to be proactive so this "waiting" period is driving me crazy and causing my brain to imagine the worst possible scenarios..

Is this waiting period within the normal range and am I worrying for nothing?

Thanks.

Diane

Artista928

I'm no doc but I don't think you should worry. You are at a low stage and low growth with no node involvement which is good. They are giving you rads because you had a lumpectomy. That's pretty much protocol.

You need to heal or more damage than good will be done if you rush to rads. I had the same concerns before chemo with delays. After sx I had 5 weeks of drains in when folks had them out by 2 weeks, got them out then shortly after got infected for another 5 weeks (including a few days in the hospital). Chemo went from a Sept start to Nov. I asked my onc and she said within 90 days of sx is the ideal. I was right on the 90 day to start chemo. Then before my last chemo my insurance dropped me. Took 3 weeks to get it fixed and so another month in delay. MO wasn't concerned. She said it isn't ideal but by that time I had a lot of chemo and this was the last one. So sometimes things are beyond your control. I wanted to start chemo before my infection was fully resolved but that would have created more problems. My MO says don't worry unless you have reason to. So right now I don't have reason to so I'm not stressing on all the hiccups I had. So try not to worry. I'm betting you really don't have to worry.

muska

hi Nachout, I was told that ideally, radiation should begin within 8 to 9 weeks from the completion of other treatment. After 9 weeks the effectiveness starts to decline. I think you still have enough time. Good luck

tgtg

Nachout--I had to wait for a huge hematoma to be aspirated (100 cc of blood) and then heal before rads could start--a total of 9 weeks. And two rad oncs said to wait--even more so because of the small, slow-growing tumor and clear margins. So relax!

SouthernSkies

My original diagnosis and lumpectomy was last week of December followed by my SNB surgery mid February. I didn't start RADS until April 1. I was told at least 6 weeks after surgery to allow myself to heal. Patience is tough in this game. Hang in there!

Z317

Hi Diane.....I'm in the same boat. Lumpectomy on 3/17 and I still have a small wound that needs to heal....I'm now 8 weeks out and I saw my med once yesterday who said he expects I can start in 2 weeks. I asked him if it's dangerous...."have the potential "rogue cells" had time to travel" his answer was that it should be fine to begin 10 weeks from surgery

Ruthie

Moderators

Dear Ruthie, Welcome to the community. We are sorry about the delay in treatment for you but glad that you reached out here to share your story. Please stay connected here. This is a warm and generous community of others with shared experiences who can support and inform one another along the way. Keep us posted on how you are doing. The Mods